Liverpool have made their decision. Feyenoord’s Arne Slot will replace Jürgen Klopp as coach next season.
The Dutchman has made a serious impact since entering the world of management just five years ago, leading AZ Alkmaar to the brink of Eredivisie glory before getting his hands on the trophy with his current side last season.
A deal to sign Slot was negotiated late on Friday evening and with his move almost complete, here is how he can position himself at Liverpool.
Questions should be asked of any potential manager who not want Alisson as the starting goalkeeper.
The only debate in this spot will revolve around who will act as the Brazilian’s replacement, with Caoimhin Kelleher tipped to be in search of first-team football this summer.
Slot’s arrival would probably be enough to convince Trent Alexander-Arnold to sign a new contract, as the Dutchman’s tactical set-up encourages his full-backs to be as active as possible in attack.
Additionally, the specific 4-2-3-1 formation Slot uses provides plenty of cover for his marauding full-backs, which could be perfect for someone with Alexander-Arnold’s abilities.
Quick passing from defense to midfield is crucial for slots teams, so someone like Ibrahima Konate should have no trouble fitting in.
The Frenchman’s only real concern is his inconsistent injury history, which could cost him a place in the team if Liverpool decide to pursue their interest in signing a new centre-back this summer.
Virgil van Dijk has already made it clear that he would like to work under Slot and you can bet that the feeling is mutual.
At Feyenoord, Slot transformed left-sided central defender David Hancko from a relatively unknown player into a superstar. Imagine what he could do with a player already at the top of the mountain.
As with Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson’s desire to get forward as often as possible will work well under Slot.
The Scot is not a long-term option for the position – he turned 30 in March – but there is no doubt that Robertson is good enough to lead Liverpool for at least a few more years.
Alexis Mac Allister’s versatility will greatly appeal to Slot, who sees his midfielder as one of the most important parts of his team.
Just as happy to pass the ball as to attack to win it back, Mac Allister would perform both duties in Slot’s 4-2-3-1 system: sitting deep in cover for his marauding full-backs while also playing passes into the Direction to them.
It feels like the stars aligned with this one. Teun Koopmeiners, who has been linked with Liverpool for several months, has admitted he wants to leave Atalanta this summer and would be interested in a move to England.
Why is this significant? Well, under Slot at AZ Alkmaar, Koopmeiners developed into a force to be reckoned with. They already know each other incredibly well and would probably jump at the chance to reunite on Merseyside.
Coincidentally, Mohamed Salah fits perfectly into Slot’s team. The coach wants his wingers to be stronger on the inside foot and should he move to Anfield he will be pleased to realize he doesn’t need to change anything with Salah.
Slot wants his wingers to penetrate inside and get into the box, even asking one of his strikers to turn into a makeshift striker when the team is defending. This could work perfectly for Salah.
After a hot start to life at Anfield, Dominik Szoboszlai’s stock has seen a slight dip of late, but that shouldn’t be enough to deter Slot.
Szoboszlai is a skilled passer with a penchant for long-range play and could be ideally suited to this attacking midfield role. However, don’t be surprised if links with Feyenoord’s Calvin Stengs emerge in the coming weeks.
Following the recent revelation that Klopp was the man behind Liverpool’s interest in Darwin Nunez, the Uruguay international faces an uncertain future after this season.
Nunez may not be a lifelong top striker fit, but Slot could offer him a chance on the outside. A natural right-footer, he fits Slot’s inside-out vision just like Salah.
If Liverpool want a new source of goals in attack, Slot will not hesitate to suggest a move for Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez, who has been scoring goals for fun over the last 12 months.
A number of elite teams have considered Gimenez as a possible target this summer, but the Mexico international would almost certainly prefer a reunion with Slot at Anfield if the opportunity arose.